Tag: TT

I’m somewhat ashamed to admit that my wife and I get some pleasure from watching the television show Hoarders. Thankfully I don’t believe that we’re in danger of being categorized as people who hoard anytime soon, but the show holds a certain fascination for me. One of my favorite games watching the show is to try to identify the cars that almost inevitably litter the yards of some of these hoarders. Discarded, covered in mountains of trash and sometimes partially disassembled, it’s always a bit of challenge to attempt to correctly identify what make and model that individual decided to hoard. It’s usually complicated by the fact that many of them are obscure cars from the 1960s and 1970s, such as this NSU Prinz 1000. Few were originally sold in the U.S. and even fewer remain in serviceable condition today. Looking through the photos provided by the seller, though, only reminds me of that game I play against myself; without the brochure, build plate and the two older photos of the outside of the car, go ahead and try to figure out what you’re looking at:

When they launched the original Quattro, Audi redefined how performance could be packaged. With supercar performance but day to day practicality, the Quattro established a niche that made Audi unique amongst not only German manufacturers, but indeed the automotive world. Since then, however, the idea of all-wheel drive and turbocharged platforms have spread not only to sister companies Porsche and Volkswagen, but indeed to Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Porsche, Opel and even outside Germany to Japan. So Audi once again redefined its packaging; in the case of the TT, they brought expensive styling to the masses, and in the case of the R8, they brought supercar performance and packaging to a 911 budget. But it’s not just Audi that has raised its game; tuning firms are held to much higher standards then they were in the 1980s. Go back and look at some early Callaway turbo setups, for example, and you’ll see what was cutting edge in the 1980s – levels of fit and finish that just aren’t acceptable today, along with driving characteristics not suitable to most owners. Computerized engine management has transformed what is possible in the tuning world to the point where today’s packages often retain OEM-levels of driveability with otherworldly performance on tap. Two great examples of this can be found in HPA’s turbocharged Audi TT and Heffner’s twin-turbocharged Audi R8:

Okay, hang on folks, this is a long one – what’s the most class, speed and style that you can get for $10,000 these days in German motoring? I’ve lined up some of the examples of just how much you can buy – which is your favorite?

It’s not often that you get to see an NSU these days, especially in the United States. It’s even more rare to find an NSU race car in the U.S.; but especially rare would be the cars that have substantial race history. In the case of this car, that history includes being raced since new – something very few cars can claim. Want some history? This car was extensively upgraded to a 1200CC motor some 47 years ago. Take that, Porsche crowd! The TT was renowned as a good racer, with plenty of balance, braking and light weight to make good use of its relatively modest power output. Looking ready to hit the track still nearly 50 years later, this TT is for sale today on Ebay:

All wheel drive is great, but math doesn’t lie – 4×0=0, and if you’re running sticky wide rubber on your performance Audi in the white stuff you’ll find it’s almost as bad as some of the cars Audi drivers love to claim superiority over in adverse conditions. Indeed, it’s a bit of a running joke in New England – for quite some time, the first cars you’d see in the ditch would be 4WD SUVs and Audi Quattros, sliding off the road with insufficient grip. Sure, you can go just fine, but you won’t be able to turn or stop any better, meaning you’ll just get to the scene of the accident all that quicker. The solution is to have some dedicated snow tires, and the easiest way to make that change over is to grab a wheel and tire package for your car. Here are a few today, starting with some TT wheels and popular Bridgestone Blizzaks:

For $550, these wheels alone would be worth the price of entry. They’re a rare variation on the “Fat Five” design and look pretty neat. Throw in some mounted and balanced tires and that’s an easy solution to snow woes. Need something for your A4, A5 or A6? How about some factory B8 sport wheels?

Okay, so it’s not exactly convertible weather here in New England, but the dreary weather of late has me wishing for a bit more sunshine and warmth, and what better way to invigorate the morning than some wishful thinking. In this case, it’s in the sunshine-loving and retina searing form of an Imola Yellow Audi TT. This is perhaps one of the rarest first generation TTs available and was as expensive as they came, with the 3.2 VR6 and DSG dual-clutch transmission in S-Line Roadster form. As if that wasn’t enough, this particular model is also basically brand new, with a scant 17,000 miles covered in nearly 10 years. If you long for a new king of the Mk.1 TTs at a cut-rate price, this may be the perfect opportunity:

This example is nearly perfect throughout and comes impeccably maintained and fully documented.
The original MSRP was over $47K-here is your chance to attain this Roadster at a bargain price. Less than a thousand Roadsters were shipped over to the US.
This TT has been fully serviced since day one and is ready to be enjoyed.

A few weeks ago, I wrote up a R32 Showdown in which I came to the conclusion that I didn’t really want either vehicle. I was mad at myself for coming to that place, but it was the reality of the platform. For me, what was missing was the manual option and 4 door option from the Mk.5 chassis car. It’s something that, generally, I associate with not being available on the later cars. Of course, what I was completely missing in that equation was the briefly available second-generation TT, which could be ordered with a 3.2 coupled to a 6-speed manual. For a while, this was the quickest of the Golf-platform cars you could buy. If you’re not into turbocharging and love the VR6 power delivery, these remain a great option to the R32; if anything, slightly more stealthy, much better looking and an impressive package all around:

I purchased this car new in August of 2007 from Flemington Audi in Flemington, NJ and it is in beautiful condition. It has always been kept in a garage, always filled with name-brand gas, always dealer-serviced and nobody has ever smoked while riding in it. It has never been in an accident of any kind. Its exterior color is “Brilliant Black” with dark grey leather/Alcantara interior. You can pick through the equipment list (see the picture of the window sticker) but here are some highlights:

If NSU isn’t the most recognizable name to you in German car history, you’re not alone. Few remember one of the more creative producers of cars and motorcycles out of Germany, notably, NSU developed the first Wankel rotary engines, pioneered small car designs, and notably developed the first real aerodynamic family sedan in the often praised Ro80. Additionally, the Prinz-based TT and TTS would offer a practical and very sporty package to the masses in Germany; sound familiar, Mr. 02? Imported in small numbers, there are still a few examples floating around, though show up at most shows and you’ll leave many scratching their heads. Today there is a beautiful example of one of the less-celebrated models available, a pristine Prinz 1000:

You are bidding on an absolutely unique 1966 NSU Prinz 1000 with a four synchronized speed transmission. It was repaired, customized and updated in 2009. It was stored until October 2012 when it was registered and driving it since, taking it out only in nice weather. The engine is standard 998 cc but with a TTS camshaft, manifold and Solex carburetors. TT Oil cooler. It is also updated with a Bosch 65 Amp alternator, Bosch Solid state ignition, remote oil filter, oil thermostat and oil temperature gauge. Priming electric fuel pump. Custom header. The compression ratio is standard 1:7.5 allowing the use of regular gasoline. The car is extremely desirable, people are taking pictures of it every where I go. However, I do not claim the car is perfect and the buyer should have expectation of typical minor blisters, chips and small scratches. Seller makes no guarantee, or warranty expressed or implied of this car, it will be sold “as is”.

When you think of great tuning companies for German cars, most of them reside in the motherland – AMG (pre-Daimler takeover), Alpina, AC Schnitzer, Abt, Ruf, and Techart. Over the past two decades, a few U.S. based tuners have raised their game to match some of the German offerings, such as Dinan, Turner, Active Autowerke and Renntech. But around 2004, a new kid popped into the tuning scene in a major way, and he was from Canada. HPA stunned the tuning world at SEMA in that year with its twin-turbo R32, a car that would go on to be featured and much loved in Gran Turismo 4. What was so shocking? How about 450 horsepower, 0-60 in under 4 seconds, and a sticker price of $80,000. Car and Driver proclaimed the conversion was good enough to look like it came from the factory. HPA has since gained notoriety for building some monstrously powerful Volkswagen and Audi products, but because they’re not in the Ivy League of tuners and are somewhat obscure, you can get some pretty outlandish performance for not much money. Today’s HPA TT 550 is a good example of this performance bargain:

Relocating across the country and ready to let the car go. Need it happen in three weeks so it’s priced at 22k. For a 550hp, 550lbft, 4 wheel drive german coupe that does not have any issues what so ever, it’s a steal. Car is a beast and absolutely solid. Please contact me ONLY if you are serious and have the funds. See below for detailed specs. For current photos, and video follow the link provided here and click on the album:

Last week, we reviewed a beautiful white 1998 993 Twin Turbo converted to Ruf Turbo R specifications. They say lightning never strikes twice, but Ruf has never been one to listen to convention or limitations. Surely the most elite of the German tuners, Ruf automobiles demand a premium over their already expensive Porsche cousins. However, there is a difference in the market between a car with an original Ruf build certificate and one that has been converted by the owner. This example looks cracking in silver, and like the white car is not an original Ruf car but a converted example.

Recent PPI done last month by Powertech in NJ (see attached report)
Perfect compression and no leaks
Excellent concours condition
Accident free
All books and manuals
Exterior is free of any scratches or rock chips
Runs and drives great
Driver seat has wear as expected (see pics)
Everything works as expected
Cold air conditioning
Clean Autocheck
Wheels are free of any curbing
Tires have over 50% tread

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